Setting Up Plex Server on Unraid: A Complete Guide

Plex Media Server is a powerful tool that turns your Unraid server into a centralized hub for streaming and managing your media collection. In this post, I’ll guide you through the process of setting up Plex Server on Unraid, covering everything from directory structure to important Plex settings. This is part of a series of blog posts on installing various apps on Unraid, focusing on recommended settings and tips for each app.

Why Use Plex on Unraid?

Plex Media Server allows you to store and stream your personal media collection across various devices. Whether you’re into movies, TV shows, music, or home videos, Plex can handle it all. Running Plex on an Unraid server is a great choice for several reasons:

Performance: Unraid’s hardware capabilities, such as encoding 4K videos, far exceed that of lightweight systems like a Raspberry Pi.
Storage: Unraid provides the ability to store terabytes of data, ensuring you have ample space for all your media.
Backup: With Unraid, you can easily configure backups for your media library, protecting your valuable data.

What Are Dockers?

Apps installed on Unraid are known as Docker containers. Docker allows applications to run in isolated environments, completely separated from your main operating system. This provides several advantages, including portability, security, and flexibility.

For Plex, Docker ensures that the media server is isolated from the rest of your system, except for the specific directories you grant access to. This isolation improves security, preventing the Plex app from accessing other files or causing potential system conflicts.

Requirements

Although you’re more than welcome to just read this post for general knowledge, check out my recommendations for what you need to have, in order to be able to fully use the provided information.

Familiarity with terms like "array" and "pool" for better understanding.
Knowing your way around a windows file system, creating folders, copying files, etc.
An Unraid system that is up and running, with at least one array. An added pool (previously called Cache in older versions) is optional but highly recommended.

Do you have what’s needed?

Planning Your Directory Structure

Before installing Plex, it's important to plan and set up your directory structure to ensure smooth operation. Here's how to do it:

Create a Media Share:
- Go to the Shares tab in Unraid, and click on "Add Share."
- Give the share a name (e.g., Media).
- Under Primary Storage, select Array. This will be your main media folder, so don't store it on the cache.
- I recommend setting Allocation Method to Fill-Up, which will fill the first drive first before moving to the next, allowing other drives to stay idle when not in use.
Set Up SMB for Network Access:
- After creating the share, set up SMB (Short for Samba) so you can access the media folder from other computers on the network.
- In the same Share settings screen, select Export: Yes to allow network access. Adjust security settings as necessary.

Similarly, create Plex-Specific Folders:

Create two additional folders: Plex and PlexData. These will be used for Plex's temporary files, including transcoding and cache. It's recommended to store these on your pool (cache) for faster performance. No need to share them with SMB, they are for Plex internal use only.

Installing Plex Media Server on Unraid

Go to the Apps Section:
- Head to the Apps tab in Unraid and search for Plex Media Server.
- You'll see several options. Select the one that says "official" for the best reliability.
Configure Plex Settings:
- After installation, you'll reach the settings page for Plex. Here's how to configure it:
  - Host Path 2: Point this to the Plex folder you created earlier (e.g., /mnt/cache/Plex/).
  - Host Path 3: Point this to the PlexData folder (e.g., /mnt/cache/PlexData/).
Add Media Path:
- On the same settings page, scroll down and click Add another path, port, variable, label or device.
- Select Path.
- For the name, enter something like HomeMedia.
- Set the Container Path to /media, and the Host Path to the directory you created for your media (e.g., /mnt/user/Media/).

This step essentially tells the Plex container where to find your media files. It tells it to "link" a folder called "/media" which Plex will be able to see, with the folder we created earlier on the array (/mnt/user/Media).

Finalizing and Running Plex

Once Plex is set up, follow these final steps to complete your configuration:

Transferring Media:
- Using the network share (SMB) feature you enabled, you can copy your media files into the Unraid folder you created (find it from a different computer on your network by typing //TOWER in your file explorer, or whatever you named your Unraid computer). Make sure to organize your files into subfolders like Movies, TV Shows, and Music for easier Plex library setup.
Access Plex WebUI:
- After installation, you can access Plex by navigating to http://[YOUR_UNRAID_IP]:32400/web. Alternatively, you can click on WebUI option from the Plex container's settings in the Docker tab (click on the Plex icon -> WebUI).
Enable Autostart:
- Plex is now running, but to ensure Plex starts automatically as Unraid boots, go to the Docker page and set Autostart to On.

Summary

Setting up Plex Media Server on Unraid ensures you get the most out of your hardware, allowing you to enjoy high-quality streaming, efficient media management, and centralized storage. By carefully planning your directory structure and following the installation steps, you'll have a Plex server that runs smoothly and efficiently.

Have any questions or feel like there’s something I missed? Drop a comment below, and I’ll be happy to help!

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